Just applying to college can loom as a seemingly insurmountable hurdle for too many students. ACAC's goal is to lower those barriers and show first-generation and low-income students around the country that there is indeed a way.

It's important to note that prospective graduate students have been particularly hard hit by these cuts, which in many cases prevent them from pursuing the advanced degrees and attaining the skills needed by employers.

A report on the effectiveness of a "virtual school" company, K12, Inc., was released recently. It provides a serious warning to educational "innovators" who are moving in the direction of relying on technology as a substitute for teachers.